Carton bundling



Oct. 8, 1968 c, RUMBERGER 3,404,825

CARTON BUNDLING Filed Sept. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi/ezz for $90138GT Fa mfiezyez G. c. RUMBERGER 3,404,825

CARTON BUNDLING Oct. 8, 1968 Filed Sept. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r. am m /w ,r 5 H fa a edgy v Z W J PQJJMU w H w 5;

United States Patent 3,404,825 CARTON BUNDLING George C. Rumberger,Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Brown Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 581,530 4 Claims.(Cl. 229-6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unit bundle comprising aplurality of cartons secured to each other at their ends, each of thecartons having an end flap and at least one underlying flap positionedimmediately below, each of the cartons being comprised of laminatedpaperboard having a layer of thermoplastic adhesive intermediate twolayers of paperboard, and having exit means provided in the paperboardof the flaps permitting the adhesive to be extruded therethrough, anintegral web being placed between two of the flaps of each carton andbeing adhesively aflixed to at least one flap of each carton by means ofthe thermoplastic adhesive extruded from the laminated paperboard.

The present invention relates to cartons, and is more particularlyconcerned with a novel method for providing assembled multiple units orbundles of end sealed cartons.

In the past it has been necessary to package multiple units of cartonsby overwrapping or by enclosing in a master carboard carton. Suchmethods utilizing unnecessary overwraps or master cartons are expensiveand timeconsuming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method forassembling multiple units of sealed end cartons. It is a further objectto provide such multiple units which lend themselves readily fordispensing and merchandising of the units in any combination of numbersdesired. It is further object to provide multiple unit packages whichavoid the necessity for utilizing overwraps or master cartons. Theaccomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become morefully apparent hereinafter.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an integral blank suitably cut and scored forforming a carton which may be used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of four partially assembled cartons withthe outer flaps still unsealed and showing paper webs positioned at theends of the cartons for providing a carton bundle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of four sealedcartons bundled together.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one end of the cartonassembly taken at the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the process of applying the webon packaging equipment.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of paper tape used for bundlingcartons in one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of paper tape used for bundling insomewhat modified embodiment.

According to the invention, a plurality of cartons (at least two) areplaced in juxtaposition, with their ends in coplanar arrangement, eitherside by side or face to face or both. At least one flap at the end ofeach carton is placed in open position. A strip or web of paper is thenplaced over the ends of the cartons and the open flaps then adhesivelyafiixed to the web and the web in turn adhesively affixed to the flapbelow. The other end of each of the cartons may if desired be similarlyfastened together by means of another web of paper. As a result,

See

a bundle of cartons linked together by means of a paper web or strip isformed, which bundle may be readily handled and/or sold in this form.When an individual carton is desired, it can be readily torn from therest of the bundle without disturbing the integrity of the remainder ofthe bundle.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a betterunderstanding of the invention, wherein all the parts are numbered andwherein the same numbers are used to refer to corresponding partsthroughout.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an integral blank cut andscored for forming a carton which may be used to form bundles accordingto the invention. The blank and subsequent carton are comprised of majorpanels 1 and 2 and minor panels 3 and 4. A glue flap 5 is connected toan edge of the major panel 1. The major panels 1 and 2 are each providedat one end with an outer end flap 6 and 7. The minor panels 3 and 4 areeach provided at an end with tuck flaps 8 and 9. The major panel 1 isprovided at its other end with an inner end flap 10 and the major panel2 is provided with an inner end flap 17 at its other end. The minorpanels 3 and 4 are provided at their other ends with tuck flaps 13 and14.

The carton is erected in normal fashion by adhesively affixing the glueflap 5 to the edge of the minor panel 4. The carton is then in the formof a flat-folded sleeve and may be stored and shipped in this condition.The carton is further erected by opening the sleeve. The tuck flaps 13and 14 are infolded as is inner end flap 10. Usually these flaps 10, 13,and 14 are secured together, preferably adhesively, at this point. Thecarton may then be filled with the desired contents. A-fter filling, thetuck flaps 8 and 9 are infolded and one of the outer end flaps 6 and 7folded thereover. A group of cartons 21 is then arranged as shown inFIG. 2, and paper webs or strips 18 and 19 placed over both the infoldedflaps at both ends of the carton (or at only one end if desired). Theouter end flaps 7 or 6 and 17 are then infolded and sealed to the paperstrips 18 and 19, and through the paper strips to the flaps below. Afinished bundle of cartons is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the process of the invention may be convenientlycarried out on automatic packaging equipment by mounting the strips orwebs of paper, which may be ungurnmed or gummed on one or both sides, orsimilar material such as plastic film 18 and 19 in continuous reels 25and 26. Roller guides 27 and 28 mounted on supports 29 and 30 guide thestrips 18 and 19 into position over the ends of the rows of cartons 21intermediate the upstanding fiaps 7 and 17. Either a single column ordouble column of cartons can be conveniently sealed into a bundle inthis manner. The outer end flaps are subsequently folded and adhesivelyaffixed to the paper strip and the strip in turn to the underlyingflaps, thus forming a bundle of end-sealed cartons. When fully heatsealing cartons are used, as for example cartons formed of laminatedpaper stock having an adhesive layer intermediate two paperboard layersand having slits provided in the flaps for permitting the adhesivematerial to be extruded to the surface, the web or strip material may beformed of porous paper 31, permitting the adhesive to be absorbed intoand through the paper, thereby to affix the paper to both the underlyingand overlying flaps. Alternatively paper 32 having perforations 3'3 topermit the thermoplastic adhesive to flow therethrough, as shown in FIG.6, may be used. When a conventional adhesive is used, as for exampleglue, the glue may be applied to both sides of the web of paper andre-moistened when ready for use. Alternatively the wet glue may beapplied to the paper web immediately before it is placed between theflaps of the carton. In an additional embodiment, the

adhesive may be applied to the surfaces of the carton flaps in such amanner that the continuous web may be adhered to both of the closureflaps on adjacent cartons. Alternatively, glue may be applied to onesurface of the web and one flap surface. Or, heat sealing patches may beused on one of the flaps, on the web, or both. When cartons are utilizedwhich have a combination of endflaps or tuck flaps, an intermediateflap, and an outer flap, the web material may be made to pass betweenany two of the named flaps and then be sealed in place. However, whereit is desired to form a bundle having rows of cartons in side-by-siderelationship, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is then necessary to presentthe continuous web so that it will be folded in between the outer flapsand the next underlying flap. This is accomplished by bringing thecartons together with the top flaps up in face to face relationship,passing the web between the open top flaps, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5,and then securing the web beneath the top flaps, as shown in FIG. 3.

In order to facilitate separation of the bundle into individual units,perforated scoring 34 may be applied to a strip such as strip 31 topermit it to be readily severed into portions.

The present invention has a number of advantages over methods used forpacking cartons in groups or bundles utilized in the prior art. In theprior art multiple package units were generally prepared byoverwrapping, or by enclosing in a master cardboard carton. Such methodare expensive both in requiring additional steps and in requiringadditional expensive materials. The present invention uses aninexpensive paper web or strip which is applied at the time of sealingof the cartons. Consequently, the additional steps involved inoverwrapping are completely avoided. The present invention lends itselfto the use of such newly developed materials as laminated paperboardhaving an inner layer of wax or other thermoplastic sealing material.The cartons of the invention may be bundled together on conventionalautomatic packaging equipment. Even hermetically sealed bundles ofcartons may be provided by the use of a hot melt adhesive applied toboth sides of the web material which is to be enclosed by the flaps ofthe cartons, or to one or more flaps, or both, the adhesive beingactivated immediately prior to closing the flaps. This is particularlyadvantageous when using cartons having a material such as polyethyleneor saran linings, neither of which seal adequately by heat alone due tothe very high viscosity of the coating materials used. Webs of almostany strength may be used depending upon the activity to which thebundles of cartons are to be subjected.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactdetails of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodimentsshown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will beapparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unit bundle comprising a plurality of cartons secured to each otherat their ends, each of said cartons having an end flap and least oneunderlying fiap positioned immediately below, each of said cartons beingcomprised of laminated paperboard having a layer of thermoplasticadhesive intermediate two layers of paperboard, and having exit meansprovided in the paperboard of said flaps permitting said adhesive to beextruded therethrough, and an integral web having portions thereofpositioned intermediate two of the flaps of each carton and beingadhesively aflixed to at least one flap of each carton by extrudedadhesive.

2. A unit bundle according to claim 1 wherein said cartons are arrangedin a single column, and wherein an integral web is positionedintermediate an end flap and an underlying flap at one end of eachcarton of the column, and adhesively affixed to both said end flap andsaid underlying flap.

3. A unit bundle according to claim 2 wherein a second integral web ispositioned at the other end of each carton intermediate an end flap andan underlying flap and adhesively affixed to both said end flap and saidunderlying flap.

4. A method for forming a unit bundle comprising a plurality of cartonssecured to each other at their ends, each of said cartons having an endflap and at least one underlying flap positioned immediately below, eachof said cartons being comprised of laminated paperboard having a layerof thermoplastic adhesive intermediate two layers of paperboard, andhaving adhesive means provided in the paperboard of said flapspermitting said adhesive to be extruded therethrough, said methodcomprising placing a group of cartons together with at least said outerend fiaps in open position, placing an integral web over said cartonwith a portion of said web positioned at one end of each carton over atleast one of the underlying flaps, folding said open flap over saidintegral web, and applying heat to each of said outer end flaps, therebyadhesively affixing said web to said flaps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,165 12/1925 Noland 229-63,286,906 11/1966 Rumberger 229-37 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

